[ EDITORIAL ]

Florida Medicaid Expansion: Physical, Financial Sense

Published: Wednesday, September 25, 2013 at 12:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, September 24, 2013 at 11:54 p.m.

Expanding access to Medicaid — with federal money promised for that purpose — would be good for Florida, good for residents and good for employers.

Advocates ranging from the health care industry to business interests to the League of Women Voters have made this point repeatedly, but state lawmakers keep tuning them out. It's time to demand legislators' attention and persuade them to sign on before the Jan. 1 deadline.

The federal money for states agreeing to expand Medicaid eligibility would amount to $55 billion over 10 years for Florida. It is part of the Affordable Care Act.

Gov. Rick and Florida Senate seek the federal funds (the Senate wants to apply them to a program of its own design, rather than Medicaid), but opposition in the Florida House has been too stiff to overcome.

Sentiment in the House runs from ideological hostility to blind mistrust of Washington.

WORKING-POOR FLORIDIANS

State representatives' intransigence on this issue creates the impression that they do not care about the tens of thousands of Floridians caught in a terrible irony: They are far too poor to afford health insurance yet are not destitute enough to qualify for Medicaid under its present parameters. Many work but have no health care. Without it, they and their communities suffer.

Medicaid expansion was the subject of a Sept. 17 news conference in Tampa, at which an unusual combination of leaders— from the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Florida — endorsed the cause.

In a news release issued by the league, Tampa Chamber executive Bob Rohrlack said the Medicaid expansion funding "makes good business sense for our hospitals by reducing the amount of emergency care they would need to provide for the uninsured." That, in turn, could "help stabilize business health-insurance premiums by reducing the need to pass along those costs."

Advocates also noted that Medicaid-expansion funds would fuel job creation and contribute to greater viability for small businesses in Florida.

Far beyond the economic benefits, of course, is the fundamental fact that expanded Medicaid would ease human suffering because it would enable more people to access health care. We're talking about our fellow Floridians, who, without insurance, face greater medical problems.

Florida should want better for all of its people. That is within reach, if lawmakers drop their counterproductive opposition to federal funds for Medicaid expansion.

The federal funds would improve the health of low-income Floridians, and save money for other Floridians and for businesses in Florida.

<p>Expanding access to Medicaid — with federal money promised for that purpose — would be good for Florida, good for residents and good for employers.</p><p>Advocates ranging from the health care industry to business interests to the League of Women Voters have made this point repeatedly, but state lawmakers keep tuning them out. It's time to demand legislators' attention and persuade them to sign on before the Jan. 1 deadline.</p><p>The federal money for states agreeing to expand Medicaid eligibility would amount to $55 billion over 10 years for Florida. It is part of the Affordable Care Act.</p><p>Gov. Rick and Florida Senate seek the federal funds (the Senate wants to apply them to a program of its own design, rather than Medicaid), but opposition in the Florida House has been too stiff to overcome.</p><p>Sentiment in the House runs from ideological hostility to blind mistrust of Washington.</p><p>WORKING-POOR FLORIDIANS</p><p>State representatives' intransigence on this issue creates the impression that they do not care about the tens of thousands of Floridians caught in a terrible irony: They are far too poor to afford health insurance yet are not destitute enough to qualify for Medicaid under its present parameters. Many work but have no health care. Without it, they and their communities suffer.</p><p>Medicaid expansion was the subject of a Sept. 17 news conference in Tampa, at which an unusual combination of leaders— from the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the League of Women Voters of Florida — endorsed the cause.</p><p>In a news release issued by the league, Tampa Chamber executive Bob Rohrlack said the Medicaid expansion funding "makes good business sense for our hospitals by reducing the amount of emergency care they would need to provide for the uninsured." That, in turn, could "help stabilize business health-insurance premiums by reducing the need to pass along those costs."</p><p>Advocates also noted that Medicaid-expansion funds would fuel job creation and contribute to greater viability for small businesses in Florida.</p><p>Far beyond the economic benefits, of course, is the fundamental fact that expanded Medicaid would ease human suffering because it would enable more people to access health care. We're talking about our fellow Floridians, who, without insurance, face greater medical problems.</p><p>Florida should want better for all of its people. That is within reach, if lawmakers drop their counterproductive opposition to federal funds for Medicaid expansion.</p><p>The federal funds would improve the health of low-income Floridians, and save money for other Floridians and for businesses in Florida.</p>